Multifunctional utility box with electronic paper display and vehicle charging station

ABSTRACT

A system for providing a multifunctional utility box includes a utility box for housing and providing access to utility equipment and an electronic paper display disposed on a first surface from among one or more external surfaces of the utility box. The utility box is fixed at an outdoor location and the one or more external surfaces enclose an interior cavity containing the utility equipment. The system further includes a wireless router configured to provide a WiFi hotspot centered at the utility box. The system further uses the power provided to utility boxes to power a charging rack for vehicles separately or in combination with the electronic paper display.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention relates to provisional patent application Ser. No.62/655,015 filed Apr. 9, 2018 entitled ‘MultiFunctional Utility Box withElectronic Paper Display” and provisional patent application Ser. No.62/728,984 filed Sep. 10, 2018 entitled “Multifunctional Utility Boxwith Electronic Paper Display and Vehicle Charging Station”, thedisclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

Over 30,000 locations in Los Angeles County alone feature city-ownedutility boxes such as traffic signal cabinets. When privately ownedutility boxes are considered, such as those containing communicationsinfrastructure, the total number of utility boxes is even greater.Nearly every city block contains one or more such utility boxes thatpedestrians walk by every day. Unfortunately, utility boxes are all toooften the targets of graffiti and other vandalism, creating an eyesoreand detracting from the beauty of public spaces. Such vandalism costslocal municipalities and utility companies millions of dollars everyyear.

Moreover, such utility boxes have power to them. Currently, the power isonly used for the functions performed by the utility box, for example,provision of power to, and control of, traffic signals. At the sametime, alternative means of transportation are being used in variouscities, and particularly in downtown areas. Of these alternative means,scooters and bicycles which are powered by electric motors have provenparticularly popular. These vehicles offer the advantage of having noemission because of their electric motors. However, they do require therecharging of their batteries on a regular basis. In most cases, thesevehicles are rented for a limited period of time, often a day or less,It is often not convenient for a renter to return a vehicle to a centrallocation. However, it is required that any return location also have theability to charge the returned vehicles. Thus, an opportunity exists totap the power present at the utility boxes at most intersections toprovide power for vehicle charging.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present disclosure contemplates various systems, methods, andapparatuses for overcoming the above drawbacks accompanying the relatedart. One aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure is a systemfor providing a multifunctional utility box. The system includes autility box for housing and providing access to utility equipment, theutility box being fixed at an outdoor location and including one or moreexternal surfaces enclosing an interior cavity containing the utilityequipment. The system further includes an electronic paper displaydisposed on a first surface from among the one or more externalsurfaces.

The system may include a wireless router configured to provide a WiFihotspot centered at the utility box. The wireless router may be disposedwithin the interior cavity of the utility box. The wireless router mayinclude one or more antenna elements that protrude from the interiorcavity of the utility box.

The electronic paper display may receive power from a power sourcedisposed within the interior cavity of the utility box.

Another aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure is a methodof providing a multifunctional utility box. The method includesdisposing an electronic paper display on a first surface from among oneor more external surfaces of a utility box that houses and providesaccess to utility equipment. The utility box may be fixed at an outdoorlocation and the one or more external surfaces enclose an interiorcavity containing the utility equipment.

The method may include configuring a wireless router to provide a WiFihotspot centered at the utility box. The method may include disposingthe wireless router within the interior cavity of the utility box. Themethod may include disposing one or more antenna elements of thewireless router to protrude from the interior cavity of the utility box.

The electronic paper display may receive power from a power sourcedisposed within the interior cavity of the utility box.

Disclosed is a modular system for advertising and/or vehicle rental. Thesystem draws power from power provided to utility boxes at intersectionswith electronic traffic signals. The power may be used to power anelectronic paper display module, which may include advertising displayedthereon. Alternatively, or in combination with an electronic displaymodule, the power may be further used to power a charging rack forvehicles. The vehicles may include scooters and bicycles. The chargingmay be accomplished by plugging in vehicles to the charging rack andcharging the battery in the vehicle through the corded connection, ormay be charged wirelessly through induction charging. The charging rackmay include architecture which allows for the rental of the vehiclesdirectly from the charging rack. The charging rack may have a lockingmechanism which may be controlled by software, including a smartphoneapplication. The application may be used to rent a vehicle and unlock itform the rack. The app may also be used to return the vehicle, endingthe rental by placing the vehicle in the rack. The charging rack mayinclude several sensors which may help determine the presence of anyvehicle in the charging rack, or a particular type of vehicle, forexample, a scooter or a bicycle, or to determine if a particular vehicleis in the proximity of the rack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the various embodimentsdisclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the followingdescription and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like partsthroughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 shows a utility box on a sidewalk adjacent to a cityintersection;

FIG. 2 shows the same view as FIG. 1 but with the utility box replacedwith an improved utility box according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3 shows another example of an improved utility box according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 shows another example of an improved utility box according to anembodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 shows a simplified block diagram of an improved utility boxaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the multifunctionalutility box system including the utility box and charging rack;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the charging rackincluding a first section for scooters, and a second section forbicycles;

FIG. 8A shows a top plan view of the embodiment of the charging rackfrom FIG. 6;

FIG. 8B shows a front plan view of the embodiment of the charging rackfrom FIG. 6;

FIG. 8C shows a side plan view of the embodiment of the charging rackfrom FIG. 6;

FIG. 9A shows a top plan view of another embodiment of the chargingrack;

FIG. 9B shows a front plan view of another embodiment of the chargingrack;

FIG. 9C shows a side plan view of another embodiment of the chargingrack;

FIGS. 10A and 10B show perspective views of two sections of anothercharging rack with FIGS. 10A showing a first section for scooters andFIG. 10B showing a second section for bicycles;

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of ascooter stand; and

FIG. 12 shows a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of thescooter stand of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure encompasses various embodiments of systems andmethods for providing a multifunctional utility box. The detaileddescription set forth below in connection with the appended drawings isintended as a description of the several presently contemplatedembodiments of these methods, and is not intended to represent the onlyform in which the disclosed invention may be developed or utilized. Thedescription sets forth the functions and features in connection with theillustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the sameor equivalent functions may be accomplished by different embodimentsthat are also intended to be encompassed within the scope of the presentdisclosure. It is further understood that the use of relational termssuch as first and second and the like are used solely to distinguish onefrom another entity without necessarily requiring or implying any actualsuch relationship or order between such entities.

FIG. 1 shows a utility box 100 on a sidewalk adjacent to a cityintersection. The utility box 100 houses and provides access (e.g. viahinged doors 110-1, 110-2) to utility equipment. In the example of FIG.1, the utility box 100 is a typical city-owned traffic signal cabinet,which houses electrical equipment for controlling a traffic signal ofthe intersection. The utility box 100 is fixed to the sidewalk andincludes a plurality of external surfaces 110 (generally indicated bythe arrow in FIG. 1) including the outer surfaces of the doors 110-1,110-2, a back surface on the opposite side of the utility box 100 fromthe doors 110-1, 110-2, side surfaces, and a top. The external surfaces110 enclose an interior cavity containing the utility equipment. As canbe seen, the utility box 100 has been defaced with graffiti 300.

FIG. 2 shows the same view as FIG. 1 but with the utility box 100replaced with an improved utility box 200 according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure. The utility box 200 may be the same as theutility box 100, including a plurality of external surfaces 210 that arethe same as the external surfaces 110 and similarly enclose an interiorcavity containing utility equipment, except that, in the case of theutility box 200, an electronic paper display 220 is disposed on a firstsurface 210-1 of the plurality of external surfaces 210. In FIG. 2, theelectronic paper display 220 is represented by the white area on thefirst surface 210-1 of the utility box 200, where the doors 110-1, 110-2of the utility box 100 were located in the example of FIG. 1. However,it is contemplated that the same utility box 100 of FIG. 1 may beupgraded to include the electronic paper display 220, thus becoming theutility box 200 of FIG. 2, in which case the electronic paper display220 may instead be disposed on the back of the utility box 200, wherethere are no doors 110-1, 110-2. Alternatively, the electronic paperdisplay 220 may be disposed on one of the doors 110-1, 110-2.

The electronic paper display 220 may, for example, be an electrophoretic(e.g. microencapsulated) display as used on e-readers such as theAmazon® Kindle® e-reader and may, for example, use any of variousrelated technologies employed in products made by E Ink Corporation. Theelectronic paper display 220 may feature a two-pigment, three-pigment,or multi-pigment electronic ink system. The electronic paper display 220may be sized to fit the first surface 210-1 of the utility box 200 ormay be made smaller to occupy only a portion of the first surface 210-1.The electronic paper display 220 may have generally low powerrequirements as compared to other display technologies (e.g. liquidcrystal displays), may only require power when the material to bedisplayed is changed, may require no backlight, and may be readable indirect sunlight. The electronic paper display 220 may be used to displayinformation including maps, directions, and other location guidance,information about public transportation, information about the cityincluding upcoming events, art, advertisements, and emergencybroadcasts. Through the use of the electronic paper display 220, eachutility box 200 may be part of a city-side network for broadcasting suchinformation and/or targeting specific information to specific locations.While a typical utility box 100 may be thought of by passers-by as auseless obstruction and consequently may be a target of graffiti 300, animproved utility box 200 including an electronic paper display 220 maybe viewed as a civil improvement that serves various functions andengages with people, possibly even instilling civic pride. As such, theutility box 200 may be less likely the target of graffiti 300 and othervandalism.

FIG. 3 shows another example of an improved utility box 300 according toan embodiment of the present disclosure. The utility box 300 may be thesame as the utility box 200, including a plurality of external surfaces310 that are the same as the external surfaces 210 and similarly enclosean interior cavity containing utility equipment. The utility box 300differs from the utility box 200 in that the utility box 300 includes aplurality electronic paper displays 320-1, 320-2 on respective externalsurfaces 310-1, 310-2 of the utility box 300. Such multiple displays maybe used to expand the viewing area and allow for more viewers or may beused to display different information on different displays. Forexample, with the utility box 300 located in front of a restaurant ascan be seen in FIG. 3, a first electronic paper display 320-1 may beused to display various city-related information as described abovewhile a second electronic paper display 320-2 may be used to displayadvertisements, promotions, coupons, menu information, etc. associatedwith the nearby restaurant. Unlike regular paper advertisements,promotions, etc., electronic paper may allow a restaurant or otherbusiness to engage in smart coupon advertising, e.g. posting live coupondeals in real time to increase business in times of need. The city may,for example, rent such an electronic paper display 320-2 out to thelocal restaurant or other business for a fee (e.g. a monthly rental fee)and allow access to change the display content via a web browser ormobile application. In this way, the utility box 300 may be a source ofrevenue for the city.

FIG. 4 shows another example of an improved utility box 400 according toan embodiment of the present disclosure. The utility box 400 may be thesame as the utility box 300, including a plurality of external surfaces410 that are the same as the external surfaces 310 and similarly enclosean interior cavity containing utility equipment. The utility box 400 isa variant of the utility box 300 in that a single, flexible electronicpaper display 420 spans multiple external surfaces 410-1, 410-2 of theutility box 400. To this end, the electronic paper display 420 may, forexample, be constructed using flexible, plastic-based thin-filmtransistor technology as used in the E Ink Mobius™ display. While notseparately depicted, it is also contemplated that such a flexibleelectronic paper display 420 may be disposed on a single, roundedexternal surface of a utility box such as a cylindrical, spherical, ordomed surface.

FIG. 5 shows a simplified block diagram of an improved utility box 200,300, 400 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Asdepicted schematically with a dashed line, the utility box 200, 300, 400may include one or more external surfaces 210, 310, 410 for enclosingutility equipment, with an electronic paper display 220, 320, 420disposed on the outside of such external surface(s) 210, 310, 410. Onthe inside of the external surface(s) 210, 310, 410 (i.e. in theinterior cavity containing the utility equipment) may be disposedhardware that is used in connection with the electronic paper display220, 320, 420 or that provides additional functionality to the utilitybox 200, 300, 400. For example, the utility box 200, 300, 400 mayinclude a wireless router 230 configured to provide a WiFi hotspotcentered at the utility box 200, 300, 400. In a case where such wirelessrouter 230 is disposed within the interior cavity, the wireless router230 may include one or more antenna elements 240 a (e.g. antennas,antenna strips, etc.) that protrude from the interior cavity in order toimprove signal reception of the wireless router 230. The same or adifferent one or more antenna elements 240 b (e.g. having differentsignal frequency for connecting to cellular network) and/or a wiredconnection 240 c (e.g. cable or fiber optic connection) may be used byan Internet access point 235 disposed in the interior cavity of theutility box 200, 300, 400 for connection to the Internet. Configuringthe electronic paper display 220, 320, 420, such as changing the displayto show updated artwork, advertising, information, etc. may becontrolled by a server 260 disposed in the interior cavity of theutility box 200. Such display updates may be controlled remotely (e.g.via a web browser or mobile application) over the Internet via theInternet access point 235.

The electronic paper display 220, 320, 420 and/or any wireless router230, Internet access point 235, server 260, or other hardware mayreceive power from a power source 250 that is also disposed within theinterior cavity of the utility box 200, 300, 400. The power source 250may be an existing power source associated with the utility equipment ormay be a separate additional power source associated only with theelectronic paper display 220, 320, 420, wireless router 230, Internetaccess point 235, server 260, etc. The power source 250 may be connectedto an electric grid or may provide power independent of the electricgrid (e.g. from a battery and/or a solar panel on the outside of theutility box 200, 300, 400).

As noted above, a WiFi hotspot may be centered at the utility box 200,300, 400 in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. Sucha WiFi hotspot may allow nearby people to obtain Internet access usingdevices configured in accordance with IEEE 802.11 standards. Providingsuch Internet access (e.g. for free, for a fee, for registered members,etc.) may further enhance the value of previously underutilized utilityboxes 100. Along the same lines, it is further envisioned that improvedutility boxes 200, 300, 400 may provide functionality as blockchainportals (e.g. allowing a pedestrian to access the Internet to transactin Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency), as Internet of things (IoT) devices(e.g. collecting localized usage data as part of a city-wide network),as personalized augmented reality displays (e.g. adapting an image orvideo on the electronic paper display 220, 320, 420 to each individualperson's needs and habits for personal tagged augmented realitymarketing), etc.

In the above examples of the improved utility box 200, 300, 400, theexternal surface(s) 210, 310, 410 may the same surface(s) as an existingexternal surface(s) of a pre-existing utility box, only modified toinclude an electronic paper display 220, 320, 420, etc. as describedherein. However, it is also contemplated that the external surface(s)210, 310, 410 may be surfaces of a structure that is completely externalto and encloses an existing utility box, such as a triangular orrectangular frame or a dome that is placed over and outside the existingutility box and includes the electronic paper display 220, 320, 420 onone or more surface(s) 210, 310, 410 thereon. Such an external frame ordome may include an access door for access to the utility box.

As is well known, infrastructure for providing electrically power isoften hidden from plain sight. For instance, a similar utility box 512including electrical power may be utilized for other uses. One of suchexamples is that power may be tapped to provide advertising on theutility box utilizing an electronic paper display as described above.However, the present invention contemplates additional usages for powerfrom the utility box 512 either separately or in combination with theelectronic paper display system. In this regard, the utility box 512 maybe used as an operating charging station 510 for vehicles 514, as shownin FIG. 6. For example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the vehicles 514 maybe scooters 516, skateboards 515 and bicycles 518 equipped with electricmotors.

As shown in FIGS. 6-12, the charging station 510 may include a chargingrack 520. The charging rack 520 may include a vertical portion 522 whichincludes features that keep the vehicle 514 upright when stored. Thecharging rack 520 may further include a horizontal portion 524 whichincludes features which capture a portion of a vehicle 514 whichinhibits movement of the vehicle 514. The vertical portion 522 mayinclude two primarily vertically extending posts 526. The posts 526 maybe spaced apart from one another. The posts 526 may be connected on atop end portion 528 by a crossbar 530. The crossbar 530 may includeseparator spines 532 which protrude from the crossbar 530 perpendicularto a longitudinal axis 534 of the crossbar 530. A distance between anytwo of the separator spines 532 defines a space 536. The space 536 isconfigured to allow the placement of an upright portion of a vehicle 514therein. For example, the upright portion may include an upright tubeconnecting the handlebars to the front wheel of a scooter 516, or a headtube of a bicycle 518.

The horizontal portion 524 may include two extension tubes 538. Theextension tubes 538 may be attached at a bottom end portion 540 of theposts 526. The extension tubes 538 may include a connecting ring 542 ona base end portion 544. Each post 526 may be placed in a correspondingone of the extension tube connecting ring 542. The extension tubes 538may be connected by a capture tube 546 which extends between the remoteend portions 548 of the extension tubes 538. The capture tube 546 mayfurther include a padded wrap 550 covering a center portion of thecapture tube 546. Scooters 516 may be placed in the charging rack 520 sothat the capture tube 546 lifts a rear wheel 552 of the scooter 516 offthe ground, preventing the scooter 516 from rolling. If a bicycle 518 isplaced in the charging rack 520, a front wheel 554 may be locatedbetween the crossbar 530 and capture tube 546, preventing the frontwheel 554 from rolling freely.

Both the extension tubes 538 and the posts 526 may have attachmentplates 556, which allow the extension tubes 538 and posts 526 to beattached to surfaces. For example, the attachment plates 556 on theposts 526 may be attached to a side 558 of a utility box 512. Theextension tubes 538 may be attached to a concrete surface 560 adjacentto the utility box 512. The attachment plates 556 may be connected to aside 558 of the utility box 512 or of the concrete surface 560 usingmechanical fasteners. For example, the attachment plates 556 may beattached using screws or a nut and bolt combination. Alternatively, theattachment plates may be attached using an adhesive. Or still further,the attachment plates may be attached using welding.

As shown in FIGS. 7, 10A, and 10B, the charging rack 520 may have afirst section 562 for storing scooters 516 and a second section 564 forstoring bicycles 518. Each section 562, 564 may have variations in theconfiguration of the components. For example, a height of the posts 526may be greater for the second section 564 in order to allow a portion ofthe circumference of the front wheel 554 of the bicycle 518 to passunderneath so that the front wheel 554 contacts both the crossbar 530and the capture tube 546. Similarly, the extension tubes 538 may have adifferent length in order to locate the capture tube 546 so that whenthe front wheel 554 of the bicycle 518 contacts both the crossbar 530and the capture tube 546 simultaneously. The simultaneous contactbetween the front wheel 554 of the bicycle 518 and the combination ofthe crossbar 530 and the capture tube 546, prevents the front wheel 554from rolling or turning freely. Alternatively, the first section 562 mayinclude individual stands 600 for scooters 516 as shown in FIGS. 6 and7. The individual stands 600 may include a stand plate 602 and a standbody 604. The stand body 604 may include a wheel channel 606 in whichthe front wheel of the scooter may be placed. The stand body 604 mayfurther include two side recesses 608 which are configured toaccommodate the hubs on either side of the front wheel of the scooter516.

Alternatively, the charging rack may be configured to include only avertical portion. As shown in FIGS. 7, 10A, and 10B, the first section562 of the rack includes only a vertical portion. The vertical portionmay engage the handlebars of the scooter 516 and a downtube of a bicycle518. Additionally, the vertical portion may engage the front wheel ofthe bicycle 518 as well as the downtube.

The charging rack 520 may include a wireless adapter 568 for adding thecharging rack 520 to a local wireless network. For example, the utilitybox 512 may include a wireless router that may provide a WiFi hotspotcentered at the utility box 512. Also, the charging rack 520 may beconnected to a wired port 570 in the utility box 512, which providesInternet access. Either a connection to the wireless adapter 568 mayprovide a blockchain portal for transactions, for example, rental of avehicle 514 as discussed in further detail below.

The charging rack 520 may be attached to the utility box 512.Alternatively, the charging rack 520 may simply be near enough theutility box 512 to be able to use the power available at the utility box512.

Provision of power to external vehicles or structures may be integratedin to the charging rack 520. Charging any vehicle 514 in the chargingrack 520 may be provided via a plug-in connection 572. The plug-inconnection 572 may include a port 574 which interfaces with a jack 576when the vehicle 514 is placed in the charging rack 520. The port 574may be located on the vehicle 514, and the jack 576 may be located onthe charging rack 520. The jack 576 may be connected to a cable 578which is connected to the charging rack 520 and thereby to the powerfrom the utility box 512. The cable 578 may be left extended from thecharging rack 520 when not connected. Alternatively, the cable 578 maybe connected to a retractor (not shown) so the cable 578 is pulled in toan interior of the charging rack 578 when the jack 576 is not connectedto the port 574. As a further alternative, the charging rack 520 mayinclude structure so that the jack 576 and port 574 plug directlywithout the requirement for a cable 578.

As a further alternative, the charging rack 520 may charge the vehicles514 via induction. The charging rack 520 may include a housing 580including an induction coil placed in between the extension tubes 538and the capture tube 546. Alternatively, the capture tube 546 mayinclude an induction coil for inductive charging. The induction coil ineither the housing 580 or capture tube 546 would create an alternatingelectromagnetic filed which interacts with a second induction coil inthe vehicle 514 to create a current. The current charges a battery (notshown) in the vehicle 514.

The capture tube 546 may also include one or more sensors 582. Thesensors 582 may sense one or more vehicles 514 stored in the rack. Thesesensors 582 may take any of a number of forms, and more than one type ofsensor 582 may be used in combination. For example, the capture tube 46may include light sensors 584 which are covered by the vehicle 514 whenthe vehicle 514 is placed in the charging rack 520. When light isblocked from reaching the sensor 584, the sensor 584 indicates that thevehicle 514 is in the position corresponding to the sensor 584 in thecharging rack 520. Alternatively, or in addition, the capture tube 546may include a pressure sensor 586.

The pressure sensor 586 may be connected to a processor (not shown)which is in turn connected to a memory (not shown). The memory may storedata indicating the pressure or weight provided by each type of vehicle514 when the vehicle 514 is placed in the charging rack 520. Forexample, the memory may store a first pressure for a scooter 516 and asecond pressure for a bicycle 518. The first pressure and the secondpressure may be multiplied in order to determine how many vehicles 514total are in the charging rack 520 at any point in time. This data mayalso be used to determine the mix of vehicles 514 of any particularcharging station 510, or an aggregate number of charging stations 510.Each charging station 510 may be connected to a wide area network, forexample, the Internet. This connection may be established through theWiFi connection described above. Each charging station 510 may then senddata through the wide area network which may be received by systemsoftware. The system software may be a software application whichreceives and reports various status indications sent by each chargingstation 510. The system software may determine which charging station's510 data is to be aggregated. As one example, the data may includevehicle 514 mix data. Vehicle 514 mix data may include the number ofscooters 516 and bicycles 518 present in the charging rack 520 at anyparticular charging station 510. For example, all of the vehicle 514 mixdata from charging stations 510 in a predetermined city may beaggregated. Alternately, all of the vehicle mix data from chargingstations 510 along a specific road may be aggregated, even if that roadpasses through more than one city. Any number of queries can be writtenin to the system software or a module provided wherein a user can designtheir own queries. This vehicle mix data may then be used to determineif vehicles 514 need to be moved to restore a certain type of vehicle514 to an area which has run low on that particular type of vehicle 514.

Alternately or in addition, a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip(not shown) may be added to each vehicle 514 and an RFID sensor 588added to the charging rack 520. As each vehicle 514 may have anindividual ID, verification of each vehicle's 514 proximity to thecharging rack 520 may be determined. This RFID sensor 588, along withthe above sensors 582, could help verify the presence of a particularvehicle 514 in a charging rack 520. This RFID sensor arrangement may notbe determinative by itself when the vehicle has be locked in thecharging rack to end a rental, because RFID is only able to determineproximity. However, the use of an RFID sensor 88 would offer the abilityto identify the proximity of a specific vehicle 514, rather than simplythe presence of any vehicle 514 or a type of vehicle 514. Depending onthe complexity of the deployment of the system, the charging rack 520may use one or a combination of some of the sensors 582, or may use allthe sensors 582 in order to determine the presence of a vehicle 514, atype of vehicle 514, or a particular vehicle 514 in the charging rack520.

As an alternative to a multiple sensor arrangement, the charging station510 may include a charging rack 520 and a wireless adapter 568. Thevehicles 514 may further include a device which locks the wheels of anyvehicle 514 that meets a set of predetermined conditions. Thepredetermined conditions may include the vehicle 514 having a wirelessadapter 592 which is set to automatically join the hotspot created bythe charging station wireless adapter 568 on any utility box 512controlled by the system software. Once the wireless adapter 592 on thevehicle 514 joins the hotspot, the system software may allow a user toend a rental. Once the rental is ended, the wireless adapter 568 on thecharging station 510 may send a wireless signal to the wireless adapter592 on the vehicle 514. The wireless signal may actuate brakes or lockson the wheels which prevent the wheels on the vehicle 514 from turning.

As an alternative to having the vehicle 514 automatically join thewireless hotspot using a vehicle mounted wireless adapter, the chargingstation 510 may include an RFID sensor 588, and the vehicles a uniqueRFID chip. When the RFID sensor 588 determines that the RFID chip is inproximity of the RFID sensor 588, the charging station 510 receives asignal from the RFID sensor 588 and sends a corresponding signal throughthe wireless adapter 568 to the system software. In response, the systemsoftware changes a setting which allows a renter of the vehicle 514 toterminate the rental.

The charging rack 520 may further include features on the crossbar 530which allow for locking the vehicle 514 to the charging rack 520. Thefeatures may include a locking mechanism 590 may include actuation thatis controlled by electronic signals. For example, the locking mechanism590 may be connectable to other devices via a Bluetooth or WiFi standardwireless connection.

In one embodiment, the user may have software, for example a smartphoneapplication, with which the user may connect with a vehicle rentalcompany. The user may scan an identification code (ID code) located onthe locking mechanism 590 on the charging rack 520, the lockingmechanism 590 securing a particular vehicle 514 the user wishes to rentto the charging rack 520. The information gained by scanning the lockingmechanism 590 may then be sent via the app or stored in a memory of thesmartphone. The user may then provide electronic payment information,such as with a credit card, debit card, or other electronic paymentservice, such as a payment transfer service, or may pay using analternate currency, such as a cryptocurrency. After the payment isreceived, the software may send an access code to the smart phone usingthe app. The access code may then be sent to the charging station 510 bythe app through the smartphone to unlock the locking mechanismcorresponding to the scanned ID code. The user may then remove thevehicle 514 from the charging rack 520. The process may then be reversedto return the vehicle 514. Return of the vehicle 14 may be verified bythe sensors 82 described above, or by other systems.

In one embodiment, the locking mechanism 590 may be mechanical. That is,the locking mechanism may be accomplished using only mechanical means,even if the actuation of the locking and unlocking is done throughelectronic means. In another embodiment, the locking mechanism 590 maybe electromagnetic. That is, the locking of the vehicle itself may beaccomplished through an electromagnet. The strength of the electromagnetmay be high enough Gauss that essentially no person would be able toremove it from the rack. The current to activate the electromagnet maybe turned off and on in a similar manner to the way that the mechanicallocking mechanism 590 is actuated. That is, a signal is sent to thelocking mechanism 590 which ends provision of current to the lockingmechanism 590, allowing a user to remove a vehicle 514 from the lockingmechanism 590.

The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation.Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devisevariations that are within the scope and spirit of the inventiondisclosed herein, including various ways of configuring the chargingrack. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed hereincan be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and arenot intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein.Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustratedembodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for providing a multifunctional utilitybox, the system comprising: a utility box for housing and providingaccess to utility equipment, the utility box being fixed at an outdoorlocation and including one or more external surfaces enclosing aninterior cavity containing the utility equipment; and an electronicpaper display disposed on a first surface from among the one or moreexternal surfaces.
 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising awireless router configured to provide a WiFi hotspot centered at theutility box.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the wireless router isdisposed within the interior cavity of the utility box.
 4. The system ofclaim 3, wherein the wireless router includes one or more antennaelements that protrude from the interior cavity of the utility box. 5.The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic paper display receivespower from a power source disposed within the interior cavity of theutility box.
 6. A method of providing a multifunctional utility box, themethod comprising: disposing an electronic paper display on a firstsurface from among one or more external surfaces of a utility box thathouses and provides access to utility equipment; wherein the utility boxis fixed at an outdoor location and the one or more external surfacesenclose an interior cavity containing the utility equipment.
 7. Themethod of claim 6, further comprising configuring a wireless router toprovide a WiFi hotspot centered at the utility box.
 8. The method ofclaim 7, further comprising disposing the wireless router within theinterior cavity of the utility box.
 9. The method of claim 8, disposingone or more antenna elements of the wireless router to protrude from theinterior cavity of the utility box.
 10. The method of claim 6, whereinthe electronic paper display receives power from a power source disposedwithin the interior cavity of the utility box.
 11. A modular systempowered by power at a utility box, comprising: an electronic paperdisplay on the utility box; a charging rack including one or morelocking mechanisms connected to the power at the utility box; and awireless adapter connected to the power at the utility box.
 12. Themodular system of claim 11, wherein the charging rack includes spacesfor more than one type of vehicle.
 13. The modular system of claim 12,wherein the vehicles include scooters and bicycles.
 14. The modularsystem of claim 11, wherein the one or more locking mechanisms arecontrolled wirelessly.
 15. The modular system of claim 11, wherein thecharging rack includes one or more wired connections for chargingvehicles.
 16. The modular system of claim 11, wherein the charging rackincludes an induction coil for charging vehicles.
 17. The modular systemof claim 11, wherein the wireless adapter sends a signal to the one ormore locking mechanisms to actuate the one or more locking mechanisms.18. The modular system of claim 11, wherein the wireless adapter createsa wireless hotspot centered on the utility box.
 19. A charging systemfor rechargeable vehicles comprising: a utility box; and a charging rackincluding charging locations sized to receive said rechargeable vehiclesand electrically connected to said utility box.
 20. The modular systemof claim 19, wherein the charging rack includes an RFID sensor and atleast one light sensor.